The Texas High School softball season came to a close, and it was a tremendous season for the Texas Panhandle. Here’s a look at the 2025 Press Pass Sports Softball Team. Compiled by Lance Lahnert and Kale Steed.
Coach of Year
Brad Elam, Clarendon
By Lance Lahnert
Of course, Brad Elam will always appreciate the 30-win season put together by the Clarendon softball team in 2025.
Of course, the unexpected run through the playoffs becoming the first Clarendon softball team to reach the Class 2A Division I state semifinals is permanently tamped in Coach Elam’s memory banks for a lifetime.
But when Elam breaks down and talk about the 30-8-1 state semifinal Clarendon team of 2025, the softball games will always be secondary.
“Obviously, this was the best year I’ve ever had as far as wins,” said Elam, who retired after the 2024-25 schoolyear having spent 22 years at Clarendon, 16 as the head baseball coach and six as the head softball coach. “But that’s not what I will remember most about this team. I’ll miss the kids. They were so fun to be around, the bus drives, the restaurants, just hearing them in the dugout. To sit back and watch them evolve as a team and then develop a team chemistry and love for each other. And, there was no drama.”
For the record-setting season and producing one of the top feel-good sports stories of the 2024-25 schoolyear in all the Texas Panhandle, Elam is named the 2025 Press Pass Sports Softball Coach of the Year.
Clarendon was led by a core of six seniors, five of which Elam had coached in softball since kindergarten as his daughter Hayden, Clarendon’s starting catcher, was one of the seniors.
“It was very sweet experiencing this season with Hayden,” Elam said. “And the best thing was we really didn’t know if she was going to play since she was injured last year (tore an ACL playing basketball). So yeah, it was a very sweet experience.”
Clarendon had never won a third round playoff game in softball history heading into the season, but what Elam saw was a team who “just fought and fought for everything and for each other.”
Clarendon put out signs this would be a special year during district dropping one game, an 8-6 loss to Floydada, but having the grit to bounce back and beat Floydada 2-1 in the second half of district.
Clarendon opened the playoffs winning bidistrict and area rounds with sweeps of Sanford-Fritch and Hale Center.
In the third round, Clarendon (enrollment 138) met talented Bangs (245 enrollment) and signed its names to the school history books pulling off a 7-6 and 6-3 sweep.
Clarendon met up with a familiar foe in the state quarterfinals in Floydada before a packed house and raucous crowd at Double Eagle Field in Canyon.
After Clarendon won game one 4-2 in the best-of-three series vs. Floydada, it fell the next day in game two 11-2 forcing a game three about 30 minutes after the 11-2 loss.
“I didn’t say anything inbetween games,” Elam said. “We knew we hadn’t played our best and I just sat back and watched our leaders lead.”
It certainly worked.
Clarendon started fast and never looked back winning 9-0 and reaching the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
Juggernaut Riesel ended Clarendon’s season sweeping the state semis 13-1 and 12-2.
In no way did that put a damper on Clarendon’s impressive playoff run.
“Like I said, I’ll miss these kids,” Elam said. “Such good kids. This team was focused. They were ready and hungry, playing for each other. And the leadership, well, there was no drama.
“The two series’ against Floydada and Bangs were my favorite.”
Elam was thrilled being honored by Press Pass Sports as coach of the year saying, “I’m not sure I deserve this.”
No doubt, Brad Elam is deserving. And then some.
Player of the Year
Aaliyah Chairez, Dumas, 5-7, catcher, Jr.
Chairez is one of the leaders on a roster full of youthful players for a Dumas Demonettes team that made school history this past season.
Chairez, along with a talented junior class, totaled 34 wins, won the outright District 4-4A championship and reached the UIL Class 4A Division I regional championship for the first time in program history. Chairez was not only a big reason for that success but a leader of the Demonettes at the catcher position, at the dish and in the locker room. For those reasons, Chairez earns the inaugural 2025 Press Pass Sports Softball Player of the Year honor.
Chairez was dominating at the plate carrying a slugging percentage of .854. The junior hit .554 on the season with five homers, 12 doubles, five triples and tallied 55 RBIs. Defensively, Chairez caught 192 innings finishing with a fielding percentage of .967.
“Aaliyah is a special player both defensively and offensively,” Dumas head coach Carlyn Tolleson said. “She finds way to get on base but overall Aaliyah is a big-time leader and does such a great job. You never have to tell her to work. She puts all the work in on her own and she focuses on the team. She loves being a catcher and handling the pitching staff and is just a great of a person off the field.”
Newcomer of Year
Novalie Kinkade, Randall, 5-6, Outfielder, Fr.
It’s not about how you start but how you finish. That was the definition of the freshman season for Kinkade. Fresh out of middle school, Kinkade started slow adjusting to the varsity roster but by seasons end was an everyday starter and a lead-off hitter for the Lady Raiders. Kinkade earns the 2025 Press Pass Sports Newcomer of the Year hitting .500 with an on-base percentage of .622 with a fielding percentage of 1.000.
“We have seen Nova coming through camps in junior high and knew she was a good player,” Randall head coach Michael Collins said. “She was a catcher, so we tried her in the outfield, and she was just a natural. We had a ton of players back and she was a flex player but had opportunities to hit early but she came on strong during the second half of district and became big for us to earn her spot. Nova cracked into lineup and became a leadoff hitter by time playoff hit and we can’t wait to see what she does in the future.”
THE TEAM
PITCHERS
Star Cortes, Dumas, 5-4, Jr.
The junior was a staple in the circle for a Dumas team that reached the regional semifinals for the first time in school history. The District 4-4A Utility Player of the Year racked up 127 innings going 23-4 on the year with 107 strikeouts while carrying a 3.20 ERA.
Jaylen Kaps, West Plains, 5-5, Jr.
Kaps continues to prove why she’s one of the top pitchers in the Texas Panhandle but the entire state. The three-year varsity player and District 4-4A Pitcher of the Year had 120 strikeouts in 74 innings carrying a 3.18 ERA.
Kennadie Cummins, Clarendon, 5-6, Sr.
The Clarendon ace was lights out all season and played a key role in the Lady Broncos historic run to the state semifinals. Cummins was hard to beat going 20-2 in the circle over 103 innings with 154 strikeouts to only 26 walks holding a 1.97 ERA. Cummins was named District 2-2A Co-MVP thanks to her unbelievable year.
Carolyn Koval, River Road, 5-9, Sr.
Koval finished a stellar career with an outstanding senior season for a Lady Wildcats squad that reached the regional championship for the first time in program history. Koval, the District 1-3A MVP, was the ace of the staff earning 16 wins with 140 Ks. The Grayson College commit ended her high school career with over 400 career strikeouts.
CATCHERS
Landri Holcomb, Randall, 5-7, Sr.
The West Texas A&M signee set records during her sensational senior season for the Randall Lady Raiders. Holcomb, the District 4-4A Co-MVP was outstanding behind the play with .996 fielding percentage but set school records with 18 homers and 69 RBIs. On top of those impressive numbers, Holcomb hit .538 on the year.
Brianna Cloud, Amarillo High, 5-7, Sr.
Cloud showed her leadership in more ways than one behind the plate all season for a very good Lady Sandies team that went three rounds deep into the playoffs. On the defensive side, the District 3-5A first-team selection had 136 putouts, throwing out six runners on stealing attempts and picked off six baserunners. Offensively, Cloud hit .505 with six homers, 18 doubles to go with 55 RBIs.
INFIELDERS
Maddie Hight, Canyon, 5-7, Sr.
Hight was the heart and soul of the Lady Eagles thanks to her playmaking ability and leadership. The first baseman and District 4-4A Defensive Player of the Year hit .576 on the season with nine homers, 44 RBIs and scored 49 runs.
Ava Sharp, River Road, 5-7, Sr.
A huge leader and reason for River Road’s historic season was because of the leadership and play of the versatile Sharp. Sharp defined her name at the plate hitting .544 with 18 home runs, 56 RBIs and 19 doubles. Sharp was named the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Softball Player of the Year and was the District 1-3A Co-Offensive MVP.
Mykaela Samuels, Amarillo High, 5-6, Soph.
The Amarillo High sophomore was a huge bright spot at the hot corner helping the Lady Sandies get three rounds deep in the playoffs. Samuels, a first-team District 3-5A selection, finished the year with a .556 batting average tacking on 59 RBIs. Playing third base, Samuels had a solid glove with a .862 fielding percentage.
Tandie Cummins, Clarendon, 5-6, Sr.
Cummins did everything she could to ensure Clarendon had a historic season helping charge the Lady Broncos to their first ever UIL state semifinal appearance. Cummins was named the District 2-2A CO-MVP along with her twin sister, Kennadie, putting together a huge senior campaign smashing 14 home runs with 70 RBIs while carrying a .586 batting average.
OUTFIELDERS
Vida Fierro, Dumas, 5-6, Jr.
Fierro played a huge part of an explosive Demonette offense, the junior slugger hit .434 with a slugging percentage of .875, powering out 12 homers with 12 doubles, six triples to total 57 RBIs. In the outfield, Fierro had a fielding percentage of .980.
Briley Daniels, Pampa, 5-6, Sr.
The speedster had another stellar season for a very good Lady Harvesters squad that was able to punch a ticket to the postseason. The gritty Daniels always came up clutch hitting .545 on the season with a .970 slugging percentage. Daniels finished with 11 doubles, five homers and drove in 35 runs while stealing 11 bases. Defensively, she carried a .935 fielding percentage.
Charley Spinks, Bushland, 5-10, Sr.
The Bushland slugger helped soar to the Lady Falcons to the third round of the playoffs. Spinks was the District 1-3A co-Offensive MVP highlighted by 23 home runs which was tied for sixth most in the entire state. Spinks added 68 RBIs with a batting average of .520.
BEST OF THE REST
(Alphebetical order)
Brylee Baker, Amarillo High, 5-6, utility, Jr.
Emilee Bridges, Borger, 5-8, pitcher/utility, Sr.
McKinley Daniels, Pampa, 5-5, outfielder, Sr.
Hayden Elam, Clarendon, 5-6, catcher, Sr.
Mackenzie Elliott, West Texas High, 5-8, catcher, Fr.
Ashlynn Ferris, River Road, 5-6, shortstop, Soph.
Tatum Gibson, Randall, 5-4, utility, Soph.
Maecie Hawthorne, 6-2, pitcher, first baseman, Sr.
Landri Jay, Canyon, 5-4, outfielder, Sr.
Emma Killman, River Road, 5-9, first baseman, Jr.
Farryn McKown, Bushland, 5-6, pitcher, Sr.
Grace Morales, Caprock, 5-5, pitcher/ outfielder/ Jr.
Carly Neely, Gruver, 5-8, pitcher/ shortstop, Sr.
Ansley Parr, Childress, 5-6, pitcher, Soph.
Samone Ponce, Booker, 5-2, third baseman, Sr.
Jazlynn Quigley, Randall, 5-8, pitcher, Jr.
Chayney Snelson, Bushland, 5-6, shortstop/ catcher, Jr.
Annalei Valdez, Caprock, 5-8, outfielder, Jr.
Yaritza Vargas, Dumas, 5-4, outfielder, Soph.